The diversity of nonreligion: meaning-making, activism and towards a theory of nonreligious identity and group formation

David Herbert, Josh Bullock

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    Abstract

    This article draws from interviews with 67 nonreligious Millennials across 6 countries in 25 European towns and cities, part of a research programme (Understanding Unbelief ) which aims to map the global diversity of nonreligion. We contribute to this by examining the diversity of beliefs amongst nonreligious Millennials across a range of societies from North West to South Central Europe. We examine how they find and make meaning in their lives, and how they deal with death and other existential issues. We further investigate how social and political context and the laws and practices regulating nonreligion shape emergent nonreligious forms, using the example of Poland, and build on the Polish case to examine nonreligious identity building, social activism and institution formation. Finally, we step back to our international comparisons to propose an explanation of the conditions shaping nonreligious and identity and group formation.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationNonreligion in late modern societies
    EditorsAnne-Laure Zwilling, Helge Arsheim
    Place of PublicationCham, Switzerland
    PublisherSpringer
    ISBN (Print)9783030923945
    Publication statusPublished - 2022

    Publication series

    NameBoundaries of religious freedom : regulating religion in diverse societies
    PublisherSpringer
    ISSN (Print)2214-5281
    ISSN (Electronic)2214-529X

    Keywords

    • Sociology
    • identity politics
    • multiculturalism
    • nonreligion
    • nonreligious
    • politics of religion
    • publicization
    • religious diversity

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